Jay Gruden Is New Coach of Redskins

Jay Gruden was a given a five-year contact for his first N.F.L. head coaching job.CreditPatrick Mcdermott/Getty Images

The face was different, the words familiar. Like Mike Shanahan and nearly every other recent Washington Redskins coach, Jay Gruden was eager to declare an end to the franchise’s dysfunction.

“I don’t know what happened last year,” Gruden said Thursday when he was introduced as the man charged with ending the turmoil the Redskins have endured under the owner Dan Snyder and recently under General Manager Bruce Allen. “I know that interviewing with Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen and everybody here that the passion for excellence is there.”

Gruden was a given a five-year contact for his first N.F.L. head coaching job, taking over a 3-13 team that has finished last in the N.F.C. East in five of the last six seasons.

“We have to get it right,” said Allen, who led the search and interviewed six candidates. “We need to get the franchise back on track in a winning direction.”Gruden is the eighth coach in Snyder’s 16 seasons as an N.F.L. owner. Unlike Shanahan, who was fired last week, Gruden will not have the final say over all football matters. He will report to Allen, who has taken charge of personnel decisions.

Gruden, 46, was the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals for the last three seasons, helping to develop quarterback Andy Dalton. That experience will be of use when he takes on the task of grooming another young franchise quarterback, Robert Griffin III.

Gruden praised the talents of Griffin and spoke of the need to build a “genuine” trust with him. Griffin regressed this season after a strong rookie year. He returned from major knee surgery to start 13 games, but he publicly disagreed with some of Shanahan’s decisions, struggled as a drop-back passer and was benched for the final three weeks.

Asked to confirm that Griffin would be the starter, Gruden chuckled and said, “I don’t see him as a backup.”

Griffin limited his comments to a quick post on his Facebook page: “Excited about the hiring of Coach Jay Gruden. Can’t wait to get to work with him & the guys!”

Gruden has been largely overshadowed by his brother, Jon, who won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is now an analyst on “Monday Night Football.” But Jay Gruden has been on the rise based on his success with the Bengals.

STRONG DRAFT POSITION The final payout is coming due from the 2012 deal involving Robert Griffin III, and the St. Louis Rams would love a repeat of last year’s draft haul.

The Rams (7-9) have the second overall pick, acquired from the Redskins, plus their own selection, the 13th. Last year, St. Louis parlayed the 16th and 22nd picks into a batch of talent, including Tavon Austin, Alec Ogletree, Zac Stacy, Michael Brockers and Janoris Jenkins. (AP)

JEFFERY GOING TO PRO BOWL Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery is headed to his first Pro Bowl, replacing the injured Lions star Calvin Johnson. Jeffery’s 1,421 yards receiving ranked second in franchise history, and his 89 receptions were sixth most. He and Brandon Marshall are the first pair of Chicago receivers to make the Pro Bowl in the same season. (AP)

HARVIN TO PLAY Wide receiver Percy Harvin will play for the Seattle Seahawks in Saturday’s N.F.C. divisional playoff game against the New Orleans Saints after missing most of the season because of hip surgery. Seattle Coach Pete Carroll said there would be no limitations on how Harvin is used. (AP)